Britain angered by North Korea 'hostility'

LONDON, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The British government said Wednesday it summoned the North Korean ambassador to condemn Pyongyang's "latest act of hostility."

North Korea conducted an underground nuclear test Tuesday. British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire said London summoned North Korea's envoy to condemn the test.

"Yesterday all 15 members of the U.N. Security Council signed up to a statement condemning the latest act of hostility and its grave implications for international security," Swire said in a statement.

Pyongyang's nuclear test followed the December launch of a rocket capable of reaching the western U.S. coast. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said the test would further isolate North Korea, which has few allies in the international community.

"Far from achieving its stated goal of becoming a strong and prosperous nation, (North Korea) has instead increasingly isolated and impoverished its people through its ill-advised pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery," she said in a statement Tuesday.

Swire added that North Korea is called on focus less on military matters and more on its people.

"Amid reports of widespread hardship and human rights abuses, the priority must be the health and welfare of North Korean people," he said.

North Korea said the test was part of an anti-U.S. campaign. Victoria Nuland, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, said Pyongyang notified Washington of its test intentions "without citing any specific timing prior to the event."

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